Circuit breaker



Aug. 22, 1939.

Fix Feb.

H. AYERS 2,170,584

CIRCUIT BEEP-iii;

2 Sheets-Sheet l invemfo;

By M 19% I Afiorneys Aug. 22, 1939. H. AYERS 2,170,584

C IRCUI'I BREAKER Filed Feb. 2, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor Afforneys Patented Aug. 22, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CIRCUIT BREAKER 2 Claims.

My invention relates to circuit breakers for use in the ignition circuit of an automobile engine to break said circuit, in the event the ma chine overturns, and thereby obviate the fire and explosion hazards incident to overturning of such machines.

Generally stated, the invention has for its principal object the provision of a circuit breaker for use in the capacity above indicated and which, as compared with present day devices designed for similar use, is simplified in construction, more positive and reliable in operation, may be readily installed in present-day automobiles, and is comparatively inexpensive to manufacture.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing, and subordinate objects presently appearing, a preferred embodiment of my invention has been illustrated in the accompanying drawings, set forth in detail in the succeeding description, and defined in the claims appended hereto.

In said drawings:

Figure l is a View in front elevation of a circuit breaker embodying my improvements, the cover of the casing being removed,

Figure 2 is a view in transverse section taken on the line 2--2 of Figure 1 looking downwardly,

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 1 but showing the device inverted, as, for instance, when the automobile overturns,

Figure 4 is a view in perspective of the switch operating means, and

Figure 5 is a similar view of the cylinder forming a part of the switch operating means.

Referring to the drawings by numerals, in the illustrated embodiment thereof my improved circuit breaker comprises a box-like casing l, preferably rectangular, and formed of suitable metal and designed to be attached to a fixed part of the automobile adjacent to the usual ignition battery in upstanding position. The casing l is closed by a suitable cover plate 2. Since the precise means for attaching the casing l is immaterial to the present invention no devices for that purpose have been illustrated in the drawings. Within the casing I is a pair of knife switches 3 secured to opposite side walls 4 of said casing intermediate the ends of the latter and by brackets 5 of insulation material. The switches 3 are designed to be connected, in any suitable manner, in the lines of connection to the positive and negative poles of the battery respectively. As will be seen, from an inspection of Figure 3, the switches 3 are designed when inverted to open downwardly. Above the switches 3, that is in the normal position of the parts, is a cylinder 6 the axis of which intersects the common plane of the switches 3 and which is secured to the opposite side walls 4 by means of brackets 'l. The cylinder 6 has an open upper end 8 and a reduced lower end 9, for a purpose presently seen, and is preferably rabbeted as at 6 to fit over the brackets 1 whereby bolts 1' may be extended through the wall of the cylinder 6 and said brackets 'l as shown in Figure 1. By the described means for attaching the cylinder 6 and brackets together the walls of the cylinder 5 are braced by the bolts 1'.

Within the cylinder 6 is a piston l0 longitudinally slidable therein and having a piston rod I l extending therefrom through the lower end of said cylinder between the switches 3 and beyond the same. A ball i2 is fixed to the extended end of the rod H by a pin i3. Ball l2 has a chambered side l4 adapted to fit over the reduced end 9 of the cylinder 6' under certain conditions presently explained. The rod H is provided adjacent the piston ID with a stop collar [5 engaging the lower end of said cylinder to establish the normal position of the rod ll, piston l0, and ball iii. A pair of resilient outwardly reacting 9. locking fingers iii are secured, as at I1, to the rod H upon opposite sides thereof, respectively, intermediate said piston l0 and collar l5, said fingers being normally held in inwardly flexed position by the walls or" the cylinder 6. ,3

Referring to the operation. When the automobile overturns the described devices are inverted. The piston Ill, rod II, and ball l2 drop under the influence of gravity in degrees sufficient for the ball l2 to engage the switches 3 3 and operate the same to opening position as il- 5 lustrated in Figure 3. The degree of movement of these parts is limited by engagement of the ball l2 with the reduced end 9 of the cylinder 6, the chambered side M of said ball telescoping 49 over said end 9 to center the parts. In said limit of movement of the piston l0, rod l l and ball I2 the latter is positioned to block return of the switches 3 to closing position and locked in such position by the locking fingers l6 which, 5 in said position of the parts, have been projected out of the open end of the cylinder 6 and have swung outwardly, thereby blocking, by contact with said end of the cylinder 6, return of the piston l0, rod H and ball l2 to normal position until said fingers have been flexed inwardly to enter said cylinder. Upon such manipulation of the fingers IS the parts may be returned to normal position in a manner which will be clear.

The foregoing description will, it is believed, 55

suffice to impart a clear understanding of my invention without further explanation.

Manifestly, my invention, as described, is susceptible of modification both in relation of parts and details of construction without departing from the inventive concept and right is herein reserved to all such modifications falling within the scope of the subjoined claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a device of the class described for breaking the ignition circuit of an overturned automobile, a casing adapted to be attached to a fixed part of the automobile to be inverted thereby when the automobile overturns, a pair of switches secured to opposite sides of said casing, respectively, in opposed spaced apart relation to be inverted by said casing and operative downwardly in the inverted position thereof to opening position, a cylinder secured in said casing to opposite side walls thereof, and means mounted in said cylinder intermediate the switches of said pair to be inverted therewith and operative under the influence of gravity in the inverted position thereof to operate said switches to opening position, said means including a piston slidable in said cylinder, a rod extending from the piston, and cylinder between said switches and having an end extending beyond the latter, and a ball fast on said end of the rod.

2. In a device of the class described for breaking the ignition circuit of an overturned automobile, a casing adapted to be attached to a fixed part of the automobile to be inverted thereby when the automobile overturns, a pair of switches secured to opposite sides of said casing, respectively in opposed spaced apart relation to be inverted by said casing and operative downwardly in the inverted position thereof to opening posi tion, a cylinder secured in said casing to opposite side walls thereof, and means mounted in said cylinder intermediate the switches of said pair to be inverted therewith and operative under the influence of gravity-in the inverted position thereof to operate said switches to opening position, said means including a piston slidable in said cylinder, a rod extending from the piston and cylinder between said switches and having an end extending beyond the latter, and a ball fast on said end of the rod and cooperating with one end of the cylinder to limit gravitational movement of said means, and a locking device for said means rendered eifective in the limits of gravitational movement of the latter to lock the same against reverse movement.

HERBERT AYERS. 

